before

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adverb

Definition of BEFORE

so as to precede something in order of time <their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before>

Synonyms afore [chiefly dialect], already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously

Related Words a priori, early, prematurely; first, first off, now; before long, erelong [archaic], presently, shortly, soon

Near Antonyms behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Antonyms after, afterward (or afterwards), later